Ethyleneä

Ethylene, also known as ethene, is an organic compound with the formula C2H4. It is the simplest alkene and a widely produced hydrocarbon. Ethylene is a colorless gas at room temperature with a faint sweet odor and a boiling point around −104 °C. It contains a carbon–carbon double bond (CH2=CH2) and is highly reactive, serving as a versatile building block in organic synthesis.

Industrial production and use: It is mainly produced by steam cracking of hydrocarbon feedstocks such as naphtha or ethane. It is a key feedstock for manufacturing polyethylene, via polymerization, and is used to produce other chemicals including ethylene oxide and vinyl chloride monomer (via ethylene dichloride).

Biological role: In plants, ethylene acts as a hormone regulating fruit ripening, flower senescence, leaf abscission, and responses to stress. It is produced in response to aging, injury, or environmental factors and can trigger ripening in climacteric fruits such as bananas and tomatoes.

Safety and environment: Ethylene is highly flammable and forms explosive mixtures with air; it is a reactive volatile organic compound with a relatively short atmospheric lifetime, contributing to ozone formation under certain conditions. Handling requires proper storage, venting, and detection.

Commonly related substances include polyethylene and ethylene oxide.